Toemon sat over
their wine. From the _chu[u]gen_ and toilet dealer the latter secured a
complete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. As
Kakusuke with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable innkeeper
had ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, meanwhile pushing
over a golden _ryo[u]_ wrapped up in decently thin paper which permitted
the filtering through of its yellow gleam. "Great has been the trouble
and delay of Kakusuke San. Mark not this day in memory, good Sir."
Kakusuke was equally polite in salutation--"Fear enters: thanks for the
kind entertainment of Toemon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark
of a day otherwise of but little import." These last words were a
healing balm; and Toemon rejoiced.

With the departure of Kakusuke, the chief of the "night-hawks" turned at
once to his aides. "Take! Haru!... Ah! Ko[u]ta is completely done up.
You, Take, bear the marks of the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa
Hanagawado[u]. Cho[u]bei is to be brought here at once. The house must
clear its skirts of this affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about
his neck and drag him here." The women bowed. At once they prepared for
the street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Take was
smarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object lesson.
O'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of O'Iwa, plainly heard by the
women. Very willingly she would have had nothing to do with the affair.

Cho[u]bei was engaged at _go_ with the metal dealer of his
neighbourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in the
kitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. The perfume,
vinous and of viands, came to the noses of the competitors, to the
disturbance of their game. Cho[u]bei had just made a profitable stroke.
He had five _ryo[u]_ in hand, commission from the worthy _doguya_ for
the successful sale of a daughter to the Yamadaya of Nakanocho[u]. This
enterprising plebeian, having a son to succeed him in the business, had
secured the necessary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the
rival house of the ward, by means of the fifty _ryo[u]_ secured for the
girl through the experience and clever tactics of Cho[u]bei. Many the
compliments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and
worthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their game of
_go_. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for past services and
future feasting. It wa